Lobelia plant named ‘KLELE20103’

ABSTRACT

A new  Lobelia  plant particularly distinguished by an upright and freely branching growth habit, and blue and white bicolored flowers, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Lobelia erinus.

Variety denomination:

‘KLELE20103’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Lobelia,botanically known as Lobelia erinus, and hereinafter referred to by thevariety name ‘KLELE20103’. ‘KLELE20103’ originated from a controlledcross-pollination in July 2015 in Stuttgart, Germany between theproprietary female Lobelia variety ‘LE-2015-5129’ (unpatented) and theproprietary male Lobelia variety ‘LE-2015-5135’ (unpatented).

The seeds from the cross were sown and plants were grown in a greenhousefor evaluation, where an individual plant designated ‘KLELE20103’ wasselected from the group. ‘KLELE20103’ was first vegetatively propagatedvia apical vegetative cuttings. ‘KLELE20103’ was found to reproduce trueto type in successive generations of asexual propagation via apicalvegetative cuttings.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new variety when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany.

-   -   1. An upright and freely branching growth habit; and    -   2. Blue and white bicolored flowers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Lobelia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographwhich shows the plant's overall plant habit including form, foliage, andflowers. The photograph is of a 4-month-old plant grown in a glassgreenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany in March 2021. The colors shown are astrue as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographicprocedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘KLELE20103’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inStuttgart, Germany. Data was collected on 8-week-old plants grown in agreenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany in May 2021. Color references are toThe R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London(R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition (2007), unless otherwise noted.

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Campanulaceae.        -   Botanical.—Lobelia erinus.        -   Common.—Lobelia.        -   Designation.—‘KLELE20103’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—The proprietary female Lobelia variety            ‘LE-2015-5129 (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—The proprietary male Lobelia variety            ‘LE-2015-5135’ (unpatented).-   Growth:    -   -   Growth and branching habit.—Upright, freely branching.        -   Form.—Triangular.        -   Height (measured from the top of the soil including any            flowers).—20.0 cm.        -   Width (horizontal plant diameter, including any            flowers).—29.0 cm.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—8 weeks.        -   Outdoor plant performance.—Very good.        -   Time to initiate roots.—2 to 3 weeks.        -   Root description.—Fine, white roots, freely branching, and            dense.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Color.—Immature Leaf: Upper surface: RHS 141B (Green). Lower            surface: RHS 138B (Green). Mature Leaf: Upper surface: RHS            141 (Green). Lower surface: RHS 138B (Green).        -   Length.—5.0 cm to 6.0 cm.        -   Width.—2.0 cm to 2.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptical.        -   Margin.—Sinuate.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Texture.—Upper surface is slightly haired, while the lower            surface is smooth.        -   Venation.—Pinnate.        -   Venation color.—Upper surface: Transparent, RHS color not            available. Lower surface: RHS 143D (Green).-   Stems:    -   -   Length.—17.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.        -   Internode length.—1.0 cm to 2.0 cm.        -   Texture.—Slightly haired.        -   Stem anthocyanin.—Absent.        -   Stem color.—RHS 143A (Green).        -   Peduncle.—Length: 1.0 cm to 3.0 cm. Diameter: 0.05 cm.            Texture: Smooth. Color: RHS 143A (Green).-   Flower buds:    -   -   Shape.—Inverse drop-shaped.        -   Diameter.—0.25 cm to 0.3 cm.        -   Length.—0.8 cm to 1.0 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 149D (Yellow-Green).-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Blooming habit.—Continuous.        -   Lastingness of individual blooms on plant.—Approximately 1            week.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Inflorescence type.—Raceme.        -   Quantity of flowers and buds per flowering branch.—10 to 12.-   Flowers:    -   -   Flower diameter (horizontal).—2.1 cm.        -   Flower height (vertical).—0.5 cm to 0.6 cm.        -   Mature flower.—Upper lobe: Color, upper surface: Close to            RHS 96B (Violet-Blue) with white margins. Length: 0.6 cm.            Width: 0.4 cm. Shape: Spatulate. Apex: Mucronate. Margin:            Entire. Texture (both upper and lower surfaces): Smooth.            Lower lobe: Color, upper surface: Close to RHS 96B            (Violet-Blue) with white margins. Color, lower surface: RHS            96D (Violet-Blue) with white margins. Length: 1.0 cm. Width:            0.9 cm. Shape: Orbicular. Apex: Mucronate. Margin: Entire.        -   Corolla tube: Color inside: RHS N155D (White) with RHS 96B            (Violet-Blue) pattern of lines and dots. Color outside: RHS            N155D (White) with RHS 96D (Violet-Blue) dots. Tube length:            0.7 cm. Diameter: 0.5 cm.        -   Calyx.—Length: 1.1 cm (can include an additional 0.3 cm for            the fused part). Diameter: 0.2 cm (measured at the fusion            point). Shape: Composed of 5 narrowly triangular single            leaflets forming a star shaped calyx fused in the lower            quarter. Apex: Narrowly acute. Texture: Smooth. Color: RHS            137A (Green).-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Quantity per flower: 5. Filament length: 0.7 cm.            Filament color: RHS 97B (Violet-Blue). Anther length:            0.8 cm. Anther width: 0.1 cm. Anther color: RHS 94A            (Violet-Blue). Pollen color: RHS 3D (Yellow). Pollen amount:            Sparse.        -   Pistils.—Stigma shape: Discoid, in two parts. Stigma color:            Immature: RHS not visible, appears in mature stage. Mature:            RHS N79A (Purple). Style length: 0.8 cm. Style color: RHS            145D (Yellow-Green). Ovary color: RHS 145D (Yellow-Green).            Ovary shape: Ovate.-   Fruit and seed set: Fruit and seed set not observed.-   Disease and pest/insect resistance: No disease and pest/insect    resistance observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLELE20103’ can be distinguished from its parents as described in Table1.

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Female Parent Male ParentCharacteristic ‘KLELE20103’ ‘LE-2015-5129’ ‘LE-2015-5135’ Petal colorBlue and white bicolor White Stem strength Medium Weak

‘KLELE20103’ is most similar to the commercial Lobelia variety‘KLELE20100’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 17/373,323).Differences between the varieties are described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic ‘KLELE20103’‘KLELE20100’ Petal color Blue and white bicolor Violet-blue with whitecenters Habit Upright Semi-upright

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Lobelia plant designated‘KLELE20103’ as illustrated and described herein.